Observations of a Serial Expat

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Spreading Rumors: Guess which web posts resulted in arrests in China

Mainland China is in the midst of a fresh crackdown on internet speech known as the “Anti-Rumor Campaign.” Details are complex, but in a nutshell, if you post something that the government deems false which: has “a bad international effect;” is “damaging to the national interest;” or, causes a mass protest (among other things) you can can be sent to prison for three years. To be subject to this strict penalty, the post or message must have been either viewed 5,000 times or reposted 500 times.

Three of the messages below resulted in the arrest and detainment of citizens in China. Can you pick out which posts saw their authors detained? (Click to enlarge)

The correct answers are A, C and E. (Please note that for C and E, I manufactured the post content based on news reports as the original posts are unavailable in English translation. Online usernames and thumbnail pictures, except for Yang Hui’s photograph (E), are also faked.)

A: The Anhui woman who posted a question on Sina Weibo asking about a murder in Louzhuang was deemed to be “disrupting public order” and was arrested.

C: Another Anhui women said that 16 people had died in a road accident. The official number was 10. She was placed under five days of administrative detention for “spreading rumors.”

E: Sixteen-year-old Yang Hui was just released on Monday after intervention by two activist Chinese lawyers. He had posted several times about a questionable investigation of a local karaoke bar manager’s death. He had also posted photographs of protestors demanding a more thorough investigation.

B, D, and F are completely false and fabricated by me.

B: Canadian Mark Rowswell (aka Da Shan 大山) is a famous media personality in China who learned perfect Mandarin through his own dedicated hard work. He regularly (and voluntarily) appears in Chinese New Year TV Galas and other CCTV programing.

D: Breathing in Beijing, while unhealthy many days of the year, is not the equivalent of smoking 34 cigarettes per day.

F: The Great Wall of China is not visible from the moon with the naked eye, let alone from Mars.

this is very bad precedance that will silence the populance to question anything about the government. a lot of transparency reforms (disclosure of govt official’s assets, press freedoms) are being scaled back dramatically..

Agreed that it is certainly a very bad precedence that will silence many. I read that several big “Vs” on Sina Weibo have retroactively deleted any old posts that might be construed to violate the new regulations. Very scary.

Oh, and I think I just read this morning that the free trade zone, in Pudong, would likely not lift internet restrictions…

Then again, everything the CCP said technically is a mirage until it truly appears (and lasts)…basically freedoms been severely rolled back since the 2008 Olympics (including using IDs for internet registration of accounts.)

actually, the CCP consulate tried to interfere in the affairs of small city by threating the mayor of the city when a shop painted Tibet theme on its walls. so much for blaming the US on meddling on Chinese affairs (don’t throw rocks at others when living in a glass house.)

Yes, nulle, it certainly doesn’t look good. But in today’s society (unlike the 1960s) it would be harder to crack-down to such a terrible extent as the Cultural Revolution, because (despite internet restrictions) lots of things will still be seen via the internet on an international stage with the whole world watching (brave Chinese and foreign journalists always seem to figure out how to spread the word). For example, the bad consequences of the “Anti-Rumor Campaign” are already being written about (here and in the SCMP, for instance). Thanks as always, for adding to the discussion.

actually self censorship is already happening in Hong Kong, you rarely see anything in the media criticizing the HK gov’t and any protests are suppressed like the last time the chinese premier visited HK by barricades and 6 ft high barriers. (not to mention using thugs/triads as supports of current CE)

Wow. Yes, as you say, it makes me appreciate my freedom of speech. Thank you for writing about censorship and its consequences. We sometimes hear, here and there, that the Chinese authorities monitor what’s being said online but this is scary. I still dont get why A was arrested?

I think A was arrested because: (1) her post mentions a murder that might not have officially occurred; or, (2) she hints that something about the murder is being covered up. Either way she’s probably considered to be “causing trouble” by “spreading false rumors.” I also think there must be way more back-story to all of this than can be deduced from the web.

Thanks for the software tip; I’ll check it out. Whether I go to Guangdong this season or not will depend on whether the powers that be grant me a single, double or multi entry to China this time around….

just a word of advice, bring the passport you originally obtained your first china visa with (and current passport w/ at least 6 mo. remaining)

2nd, leave your laptops at home or take it with you. it is known that security services open your room, copy your HD, and add spyware to your electronics

3rd, it is a fact that the CCP uses Xinhua as a spy bureau using its own (or freelancers) to spy on anyone criticize the CCP outside of china. (recent incident of freelance reporter to spy on the Dalai Lama on his trip to Toronto and anyone who went/spoke at the event.)